Lucie Aurore
Sri Lanka is a shopper's paradise, as it offers a plethora of options to treat the shopaholic in you. Here are a few places you may want to check out for handicrafts, retail goods and jewellery in Colombo:
Easily the country's most top-end shopping mall, Crescat features designer shops for clothing, jewellery and accessories along with leading salons and a fully fledged super market at the basement. Located within close proximity of Colombo's main hotels and top-end apartments, Crescat is a tourist's shopping hot spot. The One Galle Face project that is currently underway will add a lot of muscle to what Colombo already offers tourists in terms of shopping in the region.
Colombo's "go to" mall for youngsters, Majestic City features clothing stores, an awesome cinema with four theatres, gaming shops, DVDs and Blu Ray, and jewellery stores. Majestic City also features branches of leading clothing chains such as Cotton Collection and Odel.
Sri Lanka's first mall, Liberty Plaza recently underwent a major refurbishment programme with many designer shops and eateries being introduced. When in Colombo, luxury apartments are a great option for accommodation as they place you near all the major shopping spots and other attractions.
The country's definition of department store offers a huge collection of own-branded and designer clothes along with household items and accessories. The store has branches in and around Colombo, along with one in Kandy as well. The ambience at Odel is amazing and indeed stylish, in par with the brand image. Also, the store features a number of cafes and eateries as well, letting you relax a bit, grab a bite and continue your shopping adventure.
Colombo city is a true haven for those looking for clothing. House of Fashion, which is South Asia's biggest single-person owned retailer, No Limit, Kelly Felder and the entire stretch on Duplication Road between Bambalapitiya and Kollupitiya are all treats for those of you looking to buy clothes. From bargain outlets to top-end brands, you will find them all.
solidify your memories of your holiday in Sri Lanka by grabbing a few gorgeous handicrafts. Laksala features items from all over the country. As it is managed by the government, its main objective is providing sustainable employment for those in rural areas, while preserving local arts and crafts. When you buy handicrafts from here, you not only take back with you beautiful memory of Sri Lanka but also help uplift the lives of those made the handicrafts you are holding.
This is Sri Lanka's answer to the street markets you get in Chinatown in other countries. No matter how much of shopping you do in the country, your experience isn't complete unless you have walked through the busy streets of Pettah. The hundreds of shops here are located in clusters along narrow streets. Each cluster sells a specific type of items (i.e. household items, clothing, and jewellery). Use your bargaining skills and smile to bag hefty discounts.
